Dele Alli is 21 on Tuesday and is better than Cristiano Ronaldo was when it comes to making and scoring goals.

The Tottenham and England midfielder has been involved in 40 goals so far in his fledgling career. Compare that to Ronaldo, who had been involved in 25 by the time he was 21, scoring 14 and assisting in 11.

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SUPER STAT

Tottenham Hotspur have won 11 Premier League home games in a row - their best run since 1987

Some company Alli is keeping - especially as he has only scored twice from outside the area in the Premier League. His first was against Crystal Palace in 2016 when he controlled, flicked and fantastically found the corner. That won him goal of the season.

His second was against Watford on Saturday. This one was spectacular too — a 25-yarder that got Tottenham on their way to a sixth straight win as they chased down Chelsea.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was delighted as well as impressed by Alli’s super stats when the list was read to him.

‘Wow. That’s unbelievable, no?’ he said. ‘First of all a great kid. He’s a lovely, lovely person. And then he is a great player. And then he is so young he can improve a lot, he can learn a lot, his potential is massive.

‘Everyday he’s improving and every day he gets more mature. He’s improving in his skills but in his character as well.’

Alli's 40th was a spectacular strike against Watford as Spurs went on to win 4-0

Alli's 25-yarder sent Spurs on their way to a sixth straight win as they try and chase Chelsea

Of their father-son relationship, the Argentine added: ‘He’s special. He’s different from all the players who play now at his age. He’s so experienced. His energy, his character, his quality. He is a unique player.

‘He is young and he needs to improve but he needs love. To improve, it’s not about punching him or punishing him.

‘I am so happy for him because, yes, I always knew the relationship from day one was tough. It was friendly, lovely, but tough too because it’s like when you have your son. You love him, but sometimes you have to be tough.’

Is he the greatest young footballer in Europe? ‘Today, his age and with his stats, I think so,’ Pochettino said. ‘If he’s not the best, he’s one of the best.’

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was delighted as well as impressed by Alli’s stats

Tottenham have no plans in place for birthday celebrations for Alli’s 21st - they are simply allowing him to spend it with family and friends.

Watford gift-wrapped this win on Saturday, however. Tottenham’s opener from Alli was his 16th in the Premier League this season. Eric Dier got one of the other goals and Son Heung-min got two.

A lot of credit should go to Pochettino, who thinks Tottenham owner Daniel Levy also deserves praise for their status as title contenders.

‘We had a difficult relationship at the start but we built a strong one,’ Pochettino said. ‘He deserves a lot of credit. Tottenham are growing up and if I am doing well, it is because he believed in me and brought me here.’

The belief was well founded, with Spurs in the ascendancy on all fronts.